Match snuffer



y 1937- P. A. SHEKERJIAN 8 MATCH SNUFFE R Filed April 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 3 P. A. SHEKERJIAN 2,087,360

MATCH SNUFEER Filed April 50, 1955 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 6/4 IIIIIIIIL Patentecl July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a match snuifer and has for an object to provide a. means for safely disposing of burning and burnt matches so as to eliminate any fire hazards.

Millions of matches are used daily and every burning match that is not safely snufied before it is disposed of is a fire hazard. Many fires and serious results are often started by carelessly throwing away a match that is still burning or glowing. With this invention, however, a receptacle is provided for safely disposing of all burnt or burning matches and a snuffer is provided at the entrance of the receptacle which insures that the match will be safely snuffed as it enters the receptacle, thereby eliminating any fire hazard. The very act ofplacing the burnt or burning match into the receptacle automatically causes it to be snuffed as it enters the receptacle to safely eliminate the fire hazard.

A further feature of this invention is that the match snufler and receptacle of this invention may be provided very inexpensively and as one feature of the invention a separate snuffer is provided which may be added to a receptacle already found in every household such as a fruit jar, so as to make the use of the invention even more inexpensive.

The snuffer of this invention is provided either in the form of an entrance cover to a burnt match receptacle of a special form, or is provided as a separable and attachable entrance cover to be used in combination with an ordinary fruit jar or pickle jar or the like.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, as will hereinafter become apparent, this invention comprises the constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, hereinafter set forth, claimed and shown on the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the match snufier invention,.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another form of -'the invention,

Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line trance cover to a special burnt match receptacle. In this form there is provided a metallic rectangular shaped receptacle ll provided at its top with an inwardly extending flangedlip H. The snuifer I lv of this invention acts as a cover to the receptacle H, and seats within the flanged lip l2. ing to the shape of, the receptacle and is provided with a cone-shaped funnel [5 extending downwardly in the center thereof, the altitude of the funnel being greater than the base so as to provide a sufliciently deep funnel to cause the burning match to turn lengthwise and be substantiallysnufled out by the time it has passed or dropped therethrough.

At one side receptacle II is provided with a pair of ears I6 which are folded over so as to receive the hinge pin ll therethrough. The cover I4 is likewise provided with a pair of ears l8 and I9 to receive the hinge pin I! therethrough. One of the ears, as I9, is further provided with a. finger lip 20 so that the pressing of the finger lip 20 will cause the snuffer M to be hinged upwardly about the pin I! so as to open the receptacle. II when desired.

A supporting flap 2 I having a hole therethrough for suspending the entire device on a wall 22 by means of a nail 23 may be secured to one side of the receptacle.- l I.

In operation, the burning match 24 which may be still aflame, as at 25, is merely dropped into the cone-shaped funnel IS. -The match 24 then follows the position of the path of the arrows into the bottom of the receptacle II and accumulate therein until the receptacle may receive quite an accumulation of burnt matches. served, the bottom of the receptacle H is horizontal so that the receptacle ll may be either suspended on a wall, shown in Figure 1, or maybe placed on any suitable shelf or supporting surface.

The very act of dropping through thefunnel As will be 0b."-

The snufier I4 is of a shape correspond- I I5 will cause the flame 25 on the match 24 to go out and disappear, making the receptacle perfectly safe for storage of matches. Should the flame fail to disappear as it passes through the funnel l5, it will quickly consume all-the available oxygen within the receptacle ll converting it into carbon dioxide which will be retained therein due to the fact that carbon dioxide is heavier than air and that the receptacle is substantially air tight except for the entrance through the funnel. A

Hence, after the first burning match or two has been dropped into the receptacle the receptacle will have a fireproof atmosphere therefinger lip 20 thereby opening the snufier or cover l4 against the hinged spring 26. The burnt matches 24' within the receptacle are then merely disposed of into any convenient trash can and on releasing the finger lip 20 the snufier and cover l4 automatically return to the operative closed position and the receptacle is ready for further use on restoration either to the wall 22 or the suitable suppo ting surface.

In Figure 4 the invention is shown as used in combination with a conventional match dispenser 21. This match dispenser 21, of conventional construction, is provided with a dispensing mouth 28 through which the matches vmay be taken for use. In this form the receptacle II is provided with a pair of depending strips 29 which will just fit into the inside of the match dispenser 21 as shown. Except for these depending strips 29 for supporting the receptacle II on the match disready shown and described in Figures 1, '2 and 3.

Another form of the invention is shown-wherein the snufier 30 is used as a cover for an ordinary empty fruit or pickle jar 3| having the usual or conventional threaded mouth 32. In

this form the snuifer 30 in its inverted cone or funnel shape extends through an upwardly extending cone 33 provided with an outwardly extending flange or base 34 having the same diameter as the mouth 32 of the jar 3|. The threaded ring 35 ordinarily'used for holding the conventional glass cover on the jar 3| is placed over the cone 33 and secures the snuffer 30 to the jar 3| by means of .the outwardly extending flange 34 in the same manner that it otherwise secures a cover to the jar 3|. I

In operation, the matches are dropped through the snufier 30, in the same manner as in the forms of invention already described and when the jar 3| is to be emptied it is only necessary to remove the threaded ring 35 in the usual manner permitting the burnt matches to be disposed of and then by replacing the threaded ring 35 on the snuifer 3|) the receptacle is ready for further use.

In the form of invention shown in Figure 8 the snuiIer 40 is secured to a depending cone 4| which is provided with an inwardly extending horizontal flange42 and a depending threaded flange 43 adapted to cooperate with the threaded mouth 44 of receptacle 45, the receptacle 45 being an ordinary empty fruit or pickle jar. 'flie operation of this latter form of the invention is substantially identical with that of the form shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The snuifer 4|) is merely removed from the fruit jar or receptacle 45 at any time that it is desired to empty the burnt matches received therein, and then the snuii'er is replaced by rethreading it on the mouth 44 in the usual manner.

In-the first two forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive the snuil'er is made as an integral cover with the receptacle for the burned matcheswhile in the two forms shown in tacle'such as a fruit Jar or empty pickle Jar such as is foundin every household, thereby further reducing the cost of manufacturing and selling this invention, and making it available at extremely low cost in any household, at such low cost that it may even be distributed gratis by manufacturing companies as a safety means for the use of their products.

It will be observed that in each form of the invention the conical snufl'erdepends not from a fiat top, but from an inverted conical top which naturally leads the hand toward the center and makes it easier for the hand to automatically find the center wherein the snufier is located.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed and that changes may be made therein within the scope of what is' claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A combination match snuifer and burnt match receptacle, comprising a receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, and an open ended funnel integrally extending through said cover, said funnel having an altitude substantially greater "than its base, whereby a match may fall endbeing substantially small whereby escape of burnt gases within the receptacle will be effectively retarded, and said receptacle being provided with an inwardly extending flange to receive the edge of said cover thereon and form a substantially airtight seal therewith.

3. A combination match snufl'er and burnt match receptacle, comprising a receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, and an open ended funnel integrally extending through said cover, said funnel having an altitude substantially greaterv than its base, whereby a match may fall end-wise therethrough without jamming against the sides thereof, the aperture at the apex of the funnel being substantially small whereby .escape of burnt gases within the receptacle will be efiec-' tively retarded and said receptacle being provided with an inwardly extending flange to receive the edge of said cover thereon and form a substantially airtight seal therewith, and a hinge formed along one end of said cover and said receptacle, said hinge comprising a. pair of ears extending from said cover and said receptacle and folded about in a hinge pin extending through said pairs of cars, one of said ears on said cover extending outwardly therefrom to provide a cover opening tfinger grip, to permit easy emptying of the recepac e.

PHYLLIS A. SHEKERJIAN. 

